Wilkinson granted weekend off

Sunday 14 January 2007 00:02 BST

Newcastle have agreed to rest England fly-half Jonny Wilkinson in this weekend's vital Guinness Premiership clash with Bristol at the Memorial Ground.

The decision means Wilkinson will enjoy a full two weeks' rest before England's next RBS 6 Nations fixture, against Ireland at Croke Park a week on Saturday. It will delight England head coach Brian Ashton and director of elite rugby Rob Andrew.

The Falcons' director of rugby John Fletcher said: "We believe this is a decision in the best interests of the club and the player. Jonny has started two tough international matches, taken a lot of bumps and bruises - and we have reached a joint decision."

Ashton on Tuesday took the unprecedented step of naming his team to face Ireland - 11 days before the match - in the hope it would help the Rugby Football Union persuade clubs not to field the selected players.

The Premiership clubs are under no obligation to rest their contracted players, and all decisions are likely to be made on a case-by-case basis - depending on the needs of both player and club.

Wilkinson has played just two full matches since returning from a lacerated kidney, both of them Six Nations Tests.

Newcastle confirmed their two England replacements, Toby Flood and Mat Tait, will both be involved against Bristol on Sunday.

"Each player has been taken case by case, based on what is best - and for Toby and Mathew, we believe playing for their club down at Bristol is the appropriate course of action to take," added Fletcher.

Ashton and Andrew are particularly concerned about the three Sunday fixtures - Newcastle's trip to Bristol, Saracens v Gloucester and Wasps v Sale - which could have potentially involved nine of England's starting XV just six days before the Croke Park clash.

Wasps are likely to rest England captain Phil Vickery. But Sale, who are desperately short on numbers, seem set to include Jason Robinson and Magnus Lund.